Stroller with detachable chairs



Nov. 29, 1966 1.. GOTTFRIED ETAL 33 STROLLER WITH DETACHABLE CHAIRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1966 INVENTORS LOUIS GOT TFRIED JACOB BERG ER ATTORNEY 1966 L. GOTTFRIED ETAL 3,

STROLLER WITH DETACHABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 16, 1966 w 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LOUIS GOTTFRIED JACOB BERGER ATTORNEY.

Nov, 29, mm L. GOTTFRIED ETAL 3,

STROLLER WITH DETACHABLE CHAIRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1966 INVENTORS LOUIS GOTTFRIED JACOB BERGER ATTORNEY.

L. GOTTFRIED ETAL 3,288,482

STROLLER WITH DETACHABLE CHAIRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 16, 1966 INVENTORS LOUIS GOTTFRIED JACOB BERGER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,288,482 STROLLER WITH DETACHABLE CHAIRS Louis Gottfried, 515 West End Ave., New York, N.Y., and Jacob Berger, 600 W. 246th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,590 Claims. (Cl. 28047.38)

This application is a continuation-in-part application of the copending application Serial No. 367,789, filed May 15, 1964.

The present invention relates to a stroller including longitudinal channel members mounted therein and two chairs including horizontally extending leg members adapted to rest on the ground, when used as chairs and received in respective guide members, in particular channel members, in order to releasably secure the chairs to the running gear.

Applicants own Patents No. 2,512,995, dated June 27, 1950 and No. 2,643,702, dated June 30, 1953, disclose a vehicle having a running gear, the latter including two parallel axles, each of which has two wheels and two longitudinally extending members connecting the axles and including at least one guide member, in particular one channel member, which receives a horizontally disposed leg member of a chair, in order to releasably secure the chair to a running gear and which horizontal leg member rests on the ground when used as a chair.

For an appreciably long time it has been known, that a requirement exists for providing baby carriages or strollers, which can be used for two children instead of one. In order to meet such requirement in connection with strollers, the provision of two chairs is necessary, which are releasably secured to the running gear.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a stroller with detachable chairs having a running gear which includes at least two guide means, in particular channels disposed in superposed position one on top of the other and the guide means receiving one of the horizontally disposed leg members of the respective chairs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stroller with detachable chairs which has a running gear including at least two longitudinal guide members, in particular channel members in superposed position, which guide members are disposed on a frame supported by springs spaced apart from each other at a distance which is smaller than the distance of the opposite pairs of guide members.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stroller with detachable chairs which has a running gear including at least two longitudinal guide members, in particular channel members, in superposed position, which guide members are disposed on a frame supported by springs spaced apart from each other at a distance greater than the distance of the oppositely disposed guide members.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of the stroller designed in accordance with the present invention, showing the running gear with two chairs received by appropriate channels of the running gear;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the stroller in assembled position disclosing one embodiment of the arrangement with the springs of the running gear supporting the channels within the space defined between the channels;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2, shown at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the running gear of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

3,288,482 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 FIG. 5 is an end view of the running gear shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view similar to that shown in FIG. 5, yet of another embodiment of the present invention, in which both channel members are disposed at a level higher than the supporting springs, the latter being spaced apart at a distance which is smaller than the distance between the opposite channel members;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, shown partly in section;

FIG. 8 is an end view of a third embodiment of the running gear similar to that shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the running gear disclosing a fourth embodiment in which the springs are disposed at a distance greater than the distance between the opposite channel members;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the running gear disclosing the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 9, shown partly in section;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of another embodiment of the running gear, including different guide means;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the running gear; and

FIG. 14 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5, the stroller designed in accordance with the present invention comprises a running gear 1, a first chair 2 and a second chair 3.

The running gear 1 has two axles 4 and 5 and the axle 4 carries the wheels 6 and the axle 5 carries the wheels 7. The axles 4 and 5 are connected by two longitudinally extending members 8. Helical springs 9 are secured to the longitudinal members 8 and the springs 9 and, preferably, four such springs support a rectangular frame 10. The frame 10 and in particular its cross member 11 extends beyond the springs 9 laterally, so that the frame 10 covers an area larger than that defined by the four springs 9. An upper channel member 12 is secured in longitudinal direction to the top of the rectangular frame 10, while a second channel member 13 is secured to the bottom of the rectangular frame 10.

As it is shown particularly clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, the lower channel members 13 are disposed in a plane which extends through the springs 9. The upper channel members 12 have, preferably, at their top a spring biased bolt 14 and the lower channel members 13 have a similar spring biased bolt 15, preferably, disposed on the outside or laterally on the lower channel member 13. As also shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the channel members 12 and 13 are additionally secured together by a substantially U-shaped clamping member 16, which, however, extends only for a short longitudinal length and does not extend over the entire length of the channel members 12 and 13. The spring bolts 14 and 15 are adapted to be received in corresponding holes of the horizontal leg members of the respective chairs, as will be set forth more clearly below.

Finally, the running gear 1 is also equipped with a conventional pusher member 17, which is usually made col lapsible by means of pivot pins 18.

Referring now again to FIG. 1, the chairs 2 and 3 are clearly disclosed which are to be received in upper and lower channel members 12 and 13, respectively. The chairs 2 and 3 comprise, again in conventional manner, a seat 19, a back 20 and two leg members 21 extend from the seat downwardly to continue into two parallel and substantially horizontally disposed portions 22. It should be pointed out, that the second chair 3 includes another portion 23 connecting the rear ends of the horizontally disposed portions 22, which connecting leg portion 23 is disposed in the plane of the substantially horizontally disposed parallel portions 22. The first chair 2 lacks this connecting portion 23, which is a necessary arrangement in order to permit the insertion of the chair 2 into the lower channel members 13 of the running gear in spite of the arrangement of the springs 9 within the plane of the lower channel members 13.

FIGS. 3 and shows particularly clearly that due to the arrangement of the springs 9 between the channel members 13, the connecting portion 23 would engage the springs 9 and interfere with the insertion movement, and it is for this reason that in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 5, the chair 2, the leg members 22 of which are inserted into the channel member 13, is not equipped with the rear connecting leg portion 23, thereby permitting the insertion of the leg members 22 of the chair 2 into the lower channel members 13 in which they are retained by means of the spring bolts which enter corresponding openings 24 in the leg portions 22.

FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings also show quite clearly that the chair 3 can easily be inserted into the upper channel 12 in spite of the fact that the rear leg portion 23 is provided, since the channel members 12 are disposed in a plane above the springs 9, so that no interference can occur during the insertion movement of the leg portions 22 of the chair 3 into the channel members 12.

In order to attain the rigidity of the leg portions 22 in the chair 2, FIG. 1 shows quite clearly a cross-bar connecting the leg portions 22 and by disposing the crossbar 25 in a more forward position, no interference is encountered with the springs 9 during the insertion of the leg portions 22 of the chair 2 into the lower channel member 13.

The stroller designed in accordance with the present invention can be arranged, however, in such a manner, that two equal chairs as shown as the chairs 3 in FIG. 1 of the drawings, can be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, one

embodiment permitting the use of two equal chairs 3 is disclosed. This embodiment discloses again a running gear 1' which includes the axles 4 and 5' carrying the wheels 6' and 7', respectively. The axles 4 and 5 are connected again by means of longitudinal members 8' supporting spring 9' on which a rectangular frame 10' is mounted.

In this embodiment, however, both channel members, namely the upper channel member 12 and the lower channel member 13' are disposed on top of the rectangular fname 10', so that both channel members 12 and 13' are disposed in a plane positioned above the springs 9. It is also shown in FIG. v6 of the drawings, that the springs 9 are spaced apart from each other at a distance smaller than the distance of the channel members 12' and 13'. Since no interference by the springs 9' is encountered in this embodiment, the leg portions 22' of two chairs 3 are received in the channel members 12 and 13', though a cross leg portion 23 is provided on the chair 3.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, an embodiment is disclosed which is substantially identical with that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with the exception that the axles 4 and 5 are cranked in order to lower the springs 9 as well as the rectangular frame 10 The axles 4, and 5 have again the wheels 6 and 7 respectively, and the channel members 12 and 13 are disposed on top of the rectangular frame 10 above the plane defined by the springs 9 By this arrangement it is again possible to use two chairs 3 including the rear connecting portion 23'.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a fourth embodiment is disclosed in which the axles 4 and 5 are of extended length, leading to a wider construction of the stroller. Longitudinal members 8 provide again a connection for the axles 4 and 5 and the springs 9 are supported by the longitudinal members 8 and carry the rectangular frame 10 In this embodiment the lower channels 13 are again secured to the bottom face of the frame 10 and the upper channels 12 are secured to the top of the rectangular frame 10 in a manner similar to the first embodiment. Due to the fact, however, that the springs 9 are now disposed at a distance larger than the distance between the lower channel members 13 it is quite apparent that again two chairs 3, as shown in FIG. 1, can be used in this embodiment, since no interference can occur with the rear cross portion 23 0f the chair 3 in connection with the springs 9 during the insertion of their horizontal-1y disposed leg portions.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 12, it is clearly disclosed that the channel member can be formed merely by guide means of any suitable structure, as for instance, L-shaped guide members.

While in the previous embodiments a pair of oppositely disposed channel members 12 and a pair of oppositely disposed channel members 13 have been provided, whereby each channel member 12 is in superposed position with a corresponding channel member 13, the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 12 indicates the arrangement of a pair of oppositely disposed guide members 12 and a corresponding pair of oppositely disposed guide members 13 On the other hand, it is also possible to combine the embodiment of FIG. 3 with that of FIG. 1'2, by providing on one side channel members 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 3 and on the opposite side guide members 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 12. Proper locking means as indicated in the other embodiments can be provided between the leg members 22 of the chairs and the corresponding guide means.

Referring now again to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 13 and 14, another embodiment is disclosed in which the upper and the lower channel members are not disposed parallel, but slightly tapered in longitudinal direction and preferably so that the upper channel members diverge in opposite direction than the lower channel members.

In this embodiment the running gear 1 has two axles 4 and 5 and the axle 4 carries wheels 6 and the axle 5 carries wheels 7 The axles 4 and 5 are connected by two longitudinally extending members 8 Helical springs 9 are secured to the longitudinal members 8 and preferably these springs support a rectangular frame 10 The latter and in particular its cross member 11 extends beyond the springs 9 laterally, so that the frame 10 crosses an area larger than that defined by the four springs 9 Channel members 12 are secured in longitudinal direction to the top of the rectangular frame 10 thus the channel members 12 converge to each other in rearward direction to assume a slightly tapered-down position. A pair of second channel members is secured to the bottom of the rectangular frame 10 and the channel members 13 are likewise tapered-down, yet preferably in forward direction, so as to be in somewhat inclined position relative to the longitudinal axis of the running gear, yet in opposite direction concerning the two pairs of channel members 12 and 13 The running gear is also equipped with a conventional pusher member 17 which is preferably collapsible.

The running gear disclosed in FIGS. 13 and 14 is applicable to receive two chairs in a manner similar to the showing in FIG. 7 of the drawings, provided that the leg members of the base of the chair are slightly tapered at the same angle as the taper of the respective channel members 12 and 13 In this case, the leg 'members of the chairs are inserted into the tapered 6 bodiments are given by example only and not in a limit- 11. The stroller as set forth in claim 10 wherein ing sense, the scope of the present invention being desaid springs are disposed within a horizontal plane termined by the objects and the claims. which extends also at least through one of said We claim:

1. A stroller comprising in combination, 5 12. The stroller, as set forth in claim 10, wherein a running gear including two axles, said springs are disposed within a horizontal plane each of said two axles carrying two wheels, which is below said guide means. means for connecting said two axles to maintain the 13. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein latter in a spaced-apart position and forming a said springs are oppositely disposed relative to each first frame, 10 other at a distance greater than the distance bea second frame disposed above said axles, tween said guide means. springs supported by said first frame and engaging 14. A stroller comprising in combination,

said second frame, a running gear including two axles, said second frame including two pairs of at least two each of said axles carrying two wheels,

longitudinal guide means disposed in superposed two members connecting said axle, position, two springs supported by and extending upwardly said pairs of guide means being spaced apart from from each of said longitudinally extending memeach other at a predetermined distance, bers, with two chairs, a frame disposed above said axles and supported by each of said two chairs comprising a back and a seat, said springs, two leg members of each of said chairs extending said frame including at least two longitudinally disfrom the sides of said seat downwardly, posed channel members disposed in superposed said leg members being bent into substantially horiposition,

zontally disposed leg portions spaced apart from two longitudinally disposed additional members parallel each other at a distance equal with that of said to said channel members and spaced apart from the oppositely disposed guide means, and latter at a predetermined distance, said leg portions being received and supported by said with two chairs,

guide means, and said horizontally disposed leg poreach of said chairs comprising a back and a seat, tions being adapted to rest on the ground when two leg members extending from the sides of said seat used as chairs. downwardly, 2. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg members bent into parallel substantially hori each pair of said two longitudinal guide means are zontally disposed and rearwardly bent portions disposed parallel to each other. spaced apart from each other at a distance equal 3. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein with said predetermined distance between said each pair of said two longitudinal guide means is channel members and said additional members, at tapered-down in longitudinal direction. least one of said horizontally disposed portions of 4. The stroller, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said leg members of each of said chairs being resaid tapered-down longitudinal guide means of said ceived in said channel members and said horizontwo pairs of guide means are tapered in opposite tally disposed portions being adapted to rest on the direction relative to each other. ground when used as chairs, and 5. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said chairs having a crosswise dissaid guide means comprise channel members. posed portion connecting the rear ends of said 6. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein parallel substantially horizontally disposed and rearsaid guide means comprise guide members, wardly bent portions. 7. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein 15. The stroller, as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one pair of said superposed guide means said springs are disposed within a horizontal plane comprises channel members. which extends also at least through one of said 8. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein guide means. at least one of said guide means of each of said pairs of superposed guide means comprises a channel References Cited by the Examine! membef- UNITED STATES PATENTS 9. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said chairs has a crosswise disposed ,7 9/ 1894 Hantlahs X portion connecting said parallel substantially hori- 526,972 10/1394 Jaimlson 28047-41 X zontally disposed leg portions. 2,643,702 6/1953 Berger 28047-38 10. The stroller, as set forth in claim 1, wherein 2,323,067 2/1953 Gottfried 230-4733 X BENJAMIN HERSH,

guide means.

Primary Examiner.

C. C. PARSONS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STROLLER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A RUNNING GEAR INCLUDING TWO AXLES, EACH OF SAID TWO AXLES CARRYING TWO WHEELS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TWO AXLES TO MAINTAIN THE LATTER IN A SPACED-APART POSITION AND FORMING A FIRST FRAME, A SECOND FRAME DISPOSED ABOVE SAID AXLES, SPRINGS SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST FRAME AND ENGAGING SAID SECOND FRAME, SAID SECOND FRAME INCLUDING TWO PAIRS OF AT LEAST TWO LONGITUDINAL GUIDE MEANS DISPOSED IN SUPERPOSED POSITION, SAID PAIRS OF GUIDE MEANS BEING SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, WITH TWO CHAIRS, EACH OF SAID TWO CHAIRS COMPRISING A BACK AND A SEAT, TWO LEG MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID CHAIRS EXTENDING FROM THE SIDES OF SAID SEAT DOWNWARDLY, SAID LEG MEMBERS BEING BENT INTO SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LEG PORTIONS SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER AT A DISTANCE EQUAL WITH THAT OF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED GUIDE MEANS, AND SAID LEG PORTIONS BEING RECEIVED AND SUPPORTED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS, AND SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LEG PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON THE GROUND WHEN USED AS CHAIRS. 